Our Junior Representative Touch Program is about to begin, and Orange Touch warmly welcomes all junior players to consider nominating and trialling for these teams. Junior Rep is a fantastic way to develop your skills, meet like-minded people, make friends for life as well as offer other representative opportunities.
Please ensure you read through all information listed below, then to nominate and express your interest in our junior representative teams, simply complete the online form – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScT_udRZU19AocBLeDxQo8Z_YN3sh2FtwY9quJdi96JbJrVfw/viewform?usp=sharing
Age Divisions:
Please see below age divisions for our junior representative teams:
- U10 Boys and U10 Girls – born 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018
- U12 Boys and U12 Girls – born 2013 or 2014
- U14 Boys and U14 Girls – born 2011 or 2012
- U16 Boys and U16 Girls – born 2009 or 2010
- U18 Boys and U18 Girls – born 2007 or 2008
All players must trial within the age group their YOB falls within. Younger players will only be considered for inclusion in older age divisions, where the younger player has not been selected in their own age division and where the older age division is in need of players.
Eligibility:
In order to be considered for selection in our junior representative touch teams, all players need to:
- be registered in any touch team in our social touch competitions, meaning any competition our club run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, at Waratahs Sports Ground.
- satisfy one of the two options below;
- attend one of the junior representative selection trials for their division, or
- submit an ‘Inability to Trial’ email to our club prior to the start time of the last selection trial for your division (information on how to do this is listed below).
- Be able to commit to all COMPULSORY carnivals as nominated by the Club. Should players be unable to commit to the 3 main carnivals, players are still welcome to trial for Representative Teams however they will be selected as a SHADOW player as per OTA Representative Team Selection Policy. Selection-Policy-2024
Please note that any player who DOES NOT either attend one of the selection trials or DO NOT submit an ‘Inability to Trial’ email, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SELECTION in our junior representative teams.
Selection Trials:
Please see below the selection trial schedule for our junior representative teams, which will see our U16/U18 teams have a single trial, and our U10/U12/U14 teams have two selection trials.
As the trials are being conducted prior to the local competition beginning fields may not be marked.
- U10 Boys and U10 Girls
- Thursday September 12th at 4.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- Thursday September 19th at 4.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- U12 Boys
- Tuesday September 10th at 5.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- Tuesday September 17th at 5.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- U12 Girls
- Tuesday September 10th at 5.45pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- Tuesday September 17th at 5.45pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- U14 Boys and U14 Girls
- Tuesday September 10th at 4.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- Tuesday September 17th at 4.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- U16 Boys and U16 Girls
- Thursday September 19th at 4.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
- U18 Boys and U18 Girls
- Thursday September 19th at 6.30pm at Waratahs Sports Ground
Please note that all players must attend one of the above selection trials for their division to be considered for selection (unless an ‘Inability to Trial’ email is sent). All players are asked to wear a numbered singlet/shirt and to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the above trial times. Upon signing on please ensure your shirt colour and playing numbered are entered to assist with identification purposes.
Following selection trials, final team’s will be named. Please note that some teams may wish to name shadow players, who can be used for events where final team players are not available. For any shadow players named, coaching staff will contact these players and their parents with all information relating to their shadow status with the team.
Players who miss out upon selection may request feedback upon their performance. Requests for feedback may be sent to orangethundertouch@yahoo.com the Club will endeavour to reply within 10 business days.
Inability to Trial:
Any player who is unable to attend at least one selection trial for their division, must complete the Inability to Trial Form – prior to the start time of the last selection trial for your division.
Coaching Staff:
the Club are extremely grateful to the following people for taking up coaching positions this season. Once teams are finalised Team Managers will also be called for.
G10 B10
Head Coach: Jessica Nugent Head Coach: Dan Agland
Ass Coach: Millie Cunich, Myah Simmons, Lilly Clarke Ass Coach: Vacant
G12 B12
Head Coach: Michelle Prestwidge Head Coach: Karl Brabrook
Ass Coach: Nikea Dixon Ass Coach: Chris Hutchison, Chayse King, Sam Hill
G14 B14
Head Coach: Wayne Hill Head Coach: Dylan Ryan
Ass Coach: Caitlin Prestwidge, Hailey Prestwidge Ass Coach: Cooper Thornhill
G16 B16
Head Coach: Ben Calloway Head Coach: Jackson Hill
Ass Coach: Scott Maunder Ass Coach: Vacant
G18 B18
Head Coach: Josie Clarke Head Coach: Ben Blimka
Ass Coach: Tess Hazzard Ass Coach: Vacant
Junior Representative Calendar of Events:
Our club has a combination of gala days and touch championships planned for our junior representative teams this year, which will give all our teams the opportunity to play touch against some of the best teams in NSW, in preparation for our pinnacle event – the NSW Touch Junior State Cup.
Please see below our confirmed calendar of events for our junior representative teams:
These events are considered ‘COMPULSORY’.
- WSW Suns Junior Championships (SJC) – 19 January 2025 at Waratahs Sports Ground, Orange
- Peter Wilson Memorial Championships (PWMC) – 1 and 2 February 2025 at Tomaree Sports Complex, Nelson Bay
- NSW Touch Junior State Cup (JSC) – 14 to 16 February 2025 at Jubilee Park, Wagga Wagga
In addition to the above confirmed calendar of events, teams may attend an ‘optional’ event which they can participate in. The nominated event for this is:
- Penrith Junior Gala Day – 15 December 2024 (TBC) at Kingsway Playing Fields, St Marys
Confirmation regarding this optional event will be made after teams are selected and once consultation between the club, coaching staff and families has taken place. The cost of attending this event will be the responsibility of the team to cover.
In relation to the above calendar of events, we are happy for parents to begin making accommodation arrangements, if they choose to do so. However, our club strongly encourages all parents to make any accommodation bookings will free cancellation and full refund options. Our club takes no responsibility for covering costs for any accommodations which are lost or not required.
Junior Representative Player Expectations:
All players selected in our junior representative teams are to be aware of the simple expectations upon players, which includes:
- Requirement to attend team training sessions, or when unable to train, player/parent must inform coaching staff (teams will usually train 1-2 times per week).
- Requirement to attend representative events, or when unable to attend, player/parent must inform coaching staff (all events listed above in ‘Calendar of Events’).
- Requirement to pay the invoiced player levy, or if under financial hardship, to contact our club to discuss payment plan options (information about costs listed below in ‘Player Levy & Costs’).
- Players/Parents are expected to abide by the
- OTA Code of Conduct https://orangetouch.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Junior-Rep-Parent-Guardian-CoC.pdf,
- NSWTA Representative Player Parents Policy https://nswtouch.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Representative-Player-Parent-Policy-2020.pdf and tournament conditions of entry. It is the responsibility of the players/parents to ensure that they are familiar with these.
Our club believes these are simple expectations for players to follow, and in return, all players will be given the best opportunity to develop and thrive in a representative touch environment in one of the best clubs in NSW, which will give players access to progress along a Representative Sporting Pathway onto regional, state or national honours.
Junior Representative Player Levy & Costs:
Please see below information in relation to the player levy, which will be invoiced to all players who make our junior representative teams. This levy is to cover operational costs our club has to run our Junior Representative Program. To accept positions within Representative Teams players will be required to pay a $150 deposit as per the OTA Representative Team Selection Policy https://orangetouch.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Selection-Policy-2024.pdf
2024/25 Junior Representative Player Levy – est $360.00 per player
Cost inclusions:
- Player registration fee – SJC
- Tent costs – PWMC & JSC
- Medical/physio costs – PWMC & JSC
- Operation costs for representative coaching staff and referees
Please note: This cost estimate is based upon Orange Thunder fielding teams within ALL Age Divisions, should there be less teams than anticipated levies will be higher.
The above player levy DOES NOT cover the following costs:
- Player registration fee – PWMC & JSC – these registrations are completed by player/parent online via MySideline (we will provide you details to complete these regos)
- Travel and accommodation for events – these are to be arranged by the individual
- On-field and off-field apparel – these are additional optional items, based on what the individual needs
Once all junior representative teams are selected, if you’re a parent who believes you may have difficulty in paying the $360.00 player levy in a single payment, please ensure you contact our club by email orangethundertouch@yahoo.com to discuss with us options available to have you pay your child’s levy off via a payment plan. Our club fully understands the possible financial hardships in relation to the cost of child participation in sport, so our club is happy to help make this requirement easier for player/parents where possible.
Fundraising and Sponsorship:
In order to help players/parents with the costs of being involved in our Junior Representative Program, our club will continue to conduct the weekly CANTEEN on the WEDNESDSAY MINIs/ JUNIOR COMPETITION afternoon/evening along with conducting the canteen for the Sun’s Junior Championships event.
This season the Club has designed various SPONSORSHIP Packages for interested parties/businesses to come on board and support our programs. We have managed to secure a few sponsors but are still actively seeking others. Should any families run their own business, or are involved in a business that may wish to become involved with the Club in the form as a sponsor and would like to explore these packages, please contact our club by email orangethundertouch@yahoo.com to request a package to be sent to you. Our club would warmly welcome product/services donations, in exchange for corporate partnership (sponsorship) with our club as well.
Many many thanks to our Sponsors so far:
- Longtrack Pantry
- Viatek
- Kooler Ice
- Major Civil
- Sullivans Mining & Industrial
- Rogerias Transport
- Occupational Therapy Plus
- The Clarke Family
Volunteer Incentive Scheme: this season the Club are trialling an initiative designed to provide a dollar value for the time our volunteers donate to our Club. The Club is a small committee who struggle to effectively conduct all the roles necessary to coordinate weekly programs and are always grateful for the assistance of volunteers. Hours volunteered accumulate and then can be utilised to reduce player costs during the season. For more information, please read this document * copy link from webpage then paste here, command k ‘Insert link’ command box will appear, then paste copied link into address bar *
It is hoped that through these measures accompanied by reducing operational costs as well as limiting carnival attendance, will reduce the costs of playing representative touch for Orange Thunder. Our club is fully committed to making representative touch as inclusive and affordable as possible for all our players and their families.
New Playing Uniform: to align with NEW Sponsors a NEW Playing Uniform will be introduced this season. This uniform will be designed by Struddys Apparel. Please ensure that prior to the trial players try on a playing singlet and playing shorts for sizing purposes. It is hoped that final Sponsorship efforts will subsidise uniform costs.
Questions:
All questions about our Junior Representative Program can be directed to our club by email orangethundertouch@yahoo.com.
